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Burlington Performing Arts Centre announces eclectic 2015-16 season

29-May-2015 | SHARE:

Executive director Brian McCurdy is expanding programming at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre for the second year in a row with a 2015-16 season featuring an eclectic array of artists including Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer Darlene Love, comedian Howie Mandel, guitar great Jose Feliciano, Broadway star Colm Wilkinson and multiple Juno-winner Bruce Cockburn.

Unfortunately, McCurdy won't be around to fully see the fruit of his efforts.

McCurdy, who took the helm of the three-and-a-half year-old theatre in 2013, is retiring shortly after the new season opens Sept. 1 with a concert by 20-time Grammy winning jazz guitarist Pat Metheny.

McCurdy came to Burlington after working five years as director of culture for the city of Kingston. He had hoped to stay on for several more years, but family matters are forcing him to leave early.

"I have some personal family issues I have to deal with," said McCurdy, who turns 65 this fall. "We still have our house in Kingston and my wife has been there all along because she has a job there."

McCurdy said his job has been posted and applications are being accepted until June 26.

"The situation is good for somebody coming in and I think the word is out there that it is a really good job so I think we'll get a lot of good applicants," he said.

McCurdy can look back on the 2014-15 season as a success, expanding programming from 50 to 80 shows, increasing gross revenues by some $300,000, drawing strong audiences and increasing the involvement of community arts groups.

For the upcoming season, the total number of shows - including education programming and the "Live and Local" series - will reach over 100, McCurdy said.

Among the highlights of the upcoming season is a performance by Darlene Love, a hall of famer known for her vocal collaborations with producer Phil Spector on songs like "He's a Rebel" and "Today I Met the Boy I'm Gonna Marry." Love's career was renewed in recent years as a regular guest on The Late Show with David Letterman, singing "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" 29 years in a row on the talk show host's Christmas shows.

"I saw her at B.B. King's (night club) in New York back in January," McCurdy said. "I was amazed. She's not a young lady, but she's really high energy and the voice is phenomenal."

Tickets, which go on sale to the public June 3, for the upcoming season can be purchased in series packages or individually through the centre's box office.

Family Series: "Goodnight Moon" and "The Runaway Bunny" by Mermaid Theatre, Nov. 22; "Alive in Wonderland," by Tout a Trac, Jan. 24; "Cat in the Hat" by Childsplay, Feb. 21; "Alexander Who's Not Not Not Not Not Not Going to Move," by Theatreworks USA, March 12.